Keen bargain-hunters flocked into the shop in Wrexham, north Wales after signs were posted saying everything would be 50p.

But chaos erupted as hundreds of shoppers stripped the store bare to find that the offer had suddenly stopped.

Police officers were called to the busy outlet with many furious at the sudden change of heart.

One customer told wrexham.com: "The sign did not say anything about a time limit, and we were queuing to pay when we were told things had gone back to 99p.

"It is not on."

“The sign did not say anything about a time limit, and we were queuing to pay when we were told things had gone back to 99p.”

A customer

The chain, which has two million weekly shoppers at its 238 branches nationwide, have since apologised for the chaos during Monday's ordeal.

Today 99p Store officials explained there was s a "misunderstanding" as to when the store was meant to close.

A press statement read: "In light of the recent issue at 99p Stores Wrexham, the single price point retailer apologises for the unfortunate misunderstanding in relation to closure sale posters that advertised products at 50p."

Tony Brown, Chief Operating Officer for 99p Stores said: “The instruction to the stores to terminate the sale was not intended to be with immediate effect."

He added: “After last minute successful negotiation with the landlord we were able to save the store and the 30 jobs within in store.”

BARE: Shoppers took everything they could while the deal was in [SWNS]

The commotion made its way to Twitter with some posters not surprised by the bedlam.

One said: "Only in Wrexham do you get a half price sale in a 99p shop and police presence is necessary! Who are these people that are so desperate?!"

North Wales police said no arrests were made but the shop was closed for a short period of time to diffuse the situation.